Ikaruga is also different to past shooters in the sense that the emphasis is on memorization rather than skill. Enemies always appear at the same spots and move in the same patterns, which makes it mandatory to memorize each level

Thanks, I agree that it needs some work in a lot of places. It's actually a review from 2005 that was posted under my other account. I just wanted to keep everything under one account so it was removed and then reposted along with two more.

I haven't played the game in years so my memory's a bit rusty, but I'm pretty sure length is typical for a shmup. If you don't die you'll breeze through it in 20 minutes, but on your first try it'll likely take you more than twice that to make it through the first level. Then mastering it is a different story. Fourth level alone took me a good day to figure out.

Nothing innovate and very memory-based, but extremely rewarding and definitely worth trying out if you're a shmup fan and/or want a decent challenge.